Rookie Dak Prescott has played very well as the Dallas Cowboys’ starting quarterback, but veteran Tony Romo sitting on the bench has people thinking, especially after Prescott put forth his third consecutive underwhelming effort. The NFC is wide open, so should the Cowboys consider a change as we approach the playoffs?
Prescott Comes into Question
The Dallas Cowboys are sticking with their star rookie quarterback Dak Prescott for now, but his performance on Sunday opened up the door for the Tony Romo talk. Prescott had his lowest completion percentage of the season (45.9%) and for the first time, he threw more than one interception in a game. In comparison, Prescott had a total of two interceptions in his first 12 games.
The Cowboys cut it close on Thanksgiving in a 31-26 win over the Washington Redskins, then had a narrow 17-15 victory over the Minnesota Vikings last Thursday. Their win streak came to an end on Sunday, when they faced the New York Giants. Prescott has averaged just 166.3 passing yards per game in that span, so unless his play improves, more voices will be calling for veteran Tony Romo to get back in the starting lineup.
Will the Defending Super Bowl Champs Make the Playoffs?
The Broncos started the season 4-0 SU, but have been struggling since. They have only one win over a team above .500 in their last nine games. While their defense is still doing its part, the offense – namely, the running game – has been unproductive. The Broncos have rushed for 382 yards in their last five games.
It’s not going to get any easier. The Broncos’ final three games are against the 11-2 New England Patriots, 10-3 Kansas City Chiefs and 10-3 Oakland Raiders, so they could miss the playoffs completely.
Seahawks Struggle
Speaking of struggling Super Bowl contenders, the Seahawks were muzzled for the second time in three weeks on Sunday. They put up only 10 points, losing by 28 in Green Bay. It hasn’t been easy on the road for the ‘Hawks; in the last five away games, they’ve averaged 14.4 points per game.
Fortunately, they finish the season with the Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers, so they could head into the playoffs with a head of steam. They’re currently the No. 3 seed in the NFC standings.
Important Injuries
AJ Green (CIN): Green is expected to return to practice this week, so he could play on Sunday. The Bengals are still hanging on in the playoff race, but at 5-7-1 SU, their hopes are slim.
Matt Stafford (DET): Stafford finished Sunday’s game against the Bears despite tearing ligaments in a finger. He’s expected to continue starting, but, as we’ve seen with Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, this type of injury can impact accuracy.
Melvin Gordon (SD): Gordon, who’s currently seventh in rushing and three yards shy of 1,000, injured his hip and knee last week. He’s week-to-week and is expected to miss Sunday’s game against Oakland.
*Odds as of December 14, 2016